French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated that the European Union will take action in response to President Donald Trump’s threat of new tariffs. He made this announcement in an interview with French media on February 10, as reported by Reuters.
The statement came after Trump promised on February 9 to impose an additional 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the U.S. Barrot emphasized that the EU had already responded to similar measures in 2018 and would do so again.
According to Barrot, the European Commission will determine which sectors will be affected by the retaliatory measures and is ready to take action. Previously, Trump declared that he would “definitely” impose tariffs against the EU, accusing Brussels of pressuring American tech companies and contributing to the high U.S. trade deficit. In response, media reports suggested that the EU might retaliate against Silicon Valley using a mechanism known as the “bazooka.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also warned that the new U.S. tariffs could lead to higher inflation in the U.S. and harm its economy.
